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Found 72 results
  1. News Article
    A coroner has expressed wide-ranging concerns about how the NHS cares for women during menopause after the death of a 54-year-old teacher who killed herself after a decline in her mental health. Jacqueline Anne Potter took her own life during overnight leave from an acute psychiatric unit in Somerset where she was being looked after because of mental health issues exacerbated by menopause. In a prevention of future deaths report, senior coroner Samantha Marsh said she was concerned about the “lack of importance” given to menopausal care available on the NHS. She said: “Women who are not fortunate enough to be able to access private clinics and facilities may not be able to access the services and expertise they need at a very crucial transitional phase in their lives. Menopause is not a lifestyle choice, it is an unavoidable part of a woman’s natural biological cycle.” The coroner said: “Given her presentation it would appear that her underlying anxiety had been slowly building; possibly since 2008 but much more so since 2017.” She started HRT but in September 2022 declined again and the following month agreed to a voluntary admission to an acute psychiatric unit after she was found wandering in traffic. She was detained there under the Mental Health Act. Last month an inquest jury concluded that Potter’s death was suicide and said menopause “contributed to her mental health decline and exacerbated her underlying anxiety”. The jury also said that her family “did not receive appropriate information to assist them in keeping Anne safe for an overnight stay”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 29 April 2025
  2. Content Article
    Jacqueline Anne Potter, known as Anne, was a 54 year old teacher who died by suicide following a decline in her mental health. Anne died during overnight leave from an acute psychiatric unit in Somerset, where she was being looked after because of mental health issues exacerbated by menopause. In this report, the coroner raises concerns about her care and the lack of importance given to menopausal care in the NHS. Coroner's matters of concern Overnight leave arrangements When Anne was sent on her first overnight leave there was no codified ‘risk’ and ‘safety planning’ document. While in Anne’s case the report notes that it was widely accepted that her husband was well versed and knowledgeable about his wife’s risks and the measures that might be necessary to help keep her safe whilst she was at home, the Coroner noted that this may not apply in other cases. The report said that whilst families are not mental health practitioners and are not expected to adopt that role within the community there appears to be an opportunity to supply families with a short, codified document dealing with salient points of risks and safety planning when a patient goes for their first overnight leave since being detained. The Coroner suggests that this could help equip families with the knowledge to spot signs of declining mental presentation and/or risk and provide them with the knowledge and/or tools to take appropriate steps to assist in safeguarding their loved ones while they are in the community. Internet access in mental health settings The report notes that it found that if an in-patient (detained or voluntary) accesses the secure unit Wi-Fi there are no algorithms or ‘search detection features’ to prevent access to websites pertaining to self harm and so these can be readily accessed by a group who are already vulnerable due to their acute mental health presentation with some element of inherent risk of suicide. The Coroner noted that workplace organisations do have the ability to block sites if they deem it undesirable for their workforce to access (such as sites relating to gambling, sexually inappropriate content, etc). The report states that by allowing an already vulnerable group to have unfettered access to websites dedicated to self harm creates a risk of further deaths. Menopausal care The Coroner noted several areas of concern about menopausal care available on the NHS: Menopausal training is not mandatory in any area of clinical practice or specialism. The Coroner expressed concerns that there is no requirement to undertake essential compulsory menopausal training for those working in ‘relevant’ clinical practices such as mental health practice, obstetrics and gynaecology, and oncology, or even general as a general GP. The Coroner noted that she was told that the Trust has just one ‘menopause specialist’ (a GP) who covers the entire Trust operations. Not all GP surgeries have a menopause specialist practitioner (or access to one) despite a GP usually being the first port of call for women in the community when seeking primary care. Those GP surgeries who do have a practitioner who acts as a ‘specialist’ is often a GP with a personal interest who has taken the initiative to go on courses and broaden their learning and understanding, rather than any mandatory requirement for a surgery [or group with multiple surgeries] to have an available community ‘front-line’ specialist. She also noted that: “I was told during a previous PFD Response relating to menopausal knowledge and care within the NHS that “It is important to ensure that women understand common symptoms such as anxiety, stress and depression which they might experience during the menopause and where and when to seek help. The NHS website has resources….” This emphasises my concerns entirely; the lack of importance given to menopausal symptoms. If someone has concerns about heart disease, a worrying lump, a broken bone etc they expect to be able to consult a medically qualified professional who has a knowledge and understanding of their condition or presentation and can diagnose and treat accordingly; not just [and I paraphrase] ‘have a look at a website to help’.” Concluding, the Coroner referenced being told in a response to a previous Prevention of Future Deaths report where she raised similar concerns about a roll-out of specialist menopausal care and upskilling of GPs. She stated that from reviewing this case there was little evidence that this has happened/is happening and said that women continue to approach and navigate the menopause without the support of expert clinicians or practitioners who understand and can treat the symptoms they are experiencing.
  3. News Article
    Hundreds of women who are "plunged into surgical menopause" are "being failed by the NHS", says a menopause support campaigner. Diane Danzebrink, 58, from Norfolk, has called for an urgent review of surgical menopause care to ensure all clinicians know how to prepare their patients. Ms Danzebrink, who founded Menopause Support, said awareness had improved significantly, but "we haven't seen change fundamentally to ensure every woman has access to good quality care at the time that she needs it". Read full story Source: BBC, 28 December 2024
  4. Content Article
    *Trigger warning.* This story, published by Balance, is a very hard-hitting account from a husband who lost his wife by suicide. Pete wants to tell others about Victoria’s experience to raise awareness of how suddenly and severely mental health can deteriorate during the perimenopause. What happened to Victoria is rare and there is effective treatment for low mood related to the menopause. However, it is a tragic fact that suicide rates for women peak between the ages of 45-54 years, and much more needs to be done to recognise and treat the problem of changing hormones on a woman’s mental wellbeing.
  5. Content Article
    Building on the findings documented in the the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)’s previous report, Left for too long, the College commissioned new primary research to deepen our understanding of the size and impact of gynaecology waiting times on women and professionals across the system in the UK today. This report demonstrates that waiting lists for gynaecology in the UK have increased by a third since the previous report in 2022. Three quarters of a million women across the UK are now waiting for gynaecology treatment, and the data available nationally only captures a snapshot of the problem. The UK Government must deliver help now to improve care for women waiting: Continue to promote or expand schemes so that women can access free products to manage symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and incontinence. Urgently prioritise improving communication with women waiting for gynaecology care and treatment, including giving women clarity on how long they should expect to wait. This work must include national, system and local leads from across the UK to ensure this is addressed at every level of operational delivery. Expand the accessible information and advice that is available at a national level which can be accessed on relevant NHS websites in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This should be co-produced with service users. Direct relevant system and local leads to urgently produce easy-to-read accessible bespoke summaries of what local networks and resources are available to women waiting on gynaecology lists so they can access additional support in their local communities, close to home. To support professionals, the report recommends that governments across the UK: Provide health services with the resources they need so they can protect gynaecology services against operational pressures, ensuring greater theatre and diagnostic capacity for gynaecology. Build, enable, and incentivise protected training time in gynaecology as part of any elective recovery plan, to future-proof care provision. Develop accessible professional guidance about supporting women on waiting lists, ensuring it is easily accessible nationally. Consider targeted funding at a national level to expedite the longest waits, to ensure equity. Work with leads at all levels of the system to develop or consolidate strategic support networks and partnerships, particularly those between primary and secondary care, to improve delivery of care. Thank all professionals at every part of the pathway working in women’s health, acknowledging the specific challenges in the wider system that are unique to women’s health. The UK Government must also act now to deliver for the future to ensure high-quality gynaecology care for every woman in the UK: Commit to expanding Women’s Health Hubs in an equitable and sustainable way so that they can be established, to ensure all women, wherever they live, can access care and support to manage their health across their whole life course. Set out how it plans to deliver, with sustainable funding attached, the future demand and supply requirements outlined in the Long Term Workforce Plan. This should include plans to recruit professionals and deliver retention measures to encourage professionals to stay in the NHS. Increase the levels of funding allocated to health across UK, including increased funding in devolved nations. Implement measures to improve education and awareness of gynaecology in wider society and create better access to education and training for professionals in gynaecology care. Consider how to build on existing digital initiatives, commit to expanding data collection in gynaecology and commit to ringfenced funding to enable research, patient participation, innovation and pilots to improve understanding and experiences of gynaecology. Further reading on the hub: One hour with a women's health expert and finally I felt seen The normalisation of women’s pain Sex bias in pain management decisions Misogyny is a safety issue: a blog by Saira Sundar
  6. News Article
    Women with menopause symptoms should be offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a first-line treatment, not therapy, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Its final menopause guidelines for medics in England and Wales, published on Thursday, state that HRT is the preferred treatment for managing symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, depression and sleep problems, in what is seen as a climbdown from previous wording. Controversial draft guidance published last November said women experiencing these menopausal symptoms could be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) “alongside or as an alternative to” HRT. The draft guidance provoked widespread criticism that it put CBT on a par with HRT, thereby belittling symptoms and harming women’s health. Nice said it has responded to the feedback and rewritten the guidelines, which now say CBT should only be considered for patients on HRT who still have symptoms, or those who are unable or do not wish to take HRT. Prof Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer and interim director of the centre for guidelines at Nice, said: “We are not suggesting that CBT is an alternative to HRT. It’s not an either/or, and we have worked through the guidelines extensively to really clarify this point. “We are very keen to emphasise that HRT is our recommended first-line therapy for vasomotor symptoms [night sweats and hot flushes] and for [other] symptoms of menopause.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 7 November 2024
  7. Content Article
    More information about "One hour with a women's health expert and finally I felt seen"
    In this anonymous blog, a patient reflects on her recent appointment with a women's health expert. After decades of enduring both long-term debilitating symptoms and a history peppered with poorly recorded health incidences, she says that she finally felt 'seen'. She argues that investing in longer, women's health consultations like this would likely save the NHS money by reducing inefficiencies and improving outcomes.  I have just got off a call with a GP and women's health expert, and after more than 20 years worth of symptoms and events I finally feel seen and heard. I am 41 years old and have never received any private healthcare treatment before today. During my life, I have been seen by some of the most compassionate, skilled and effective NHS healthcare professionals. My closest friends and family work for the NHS and are brilliantly determined and patient-focused. I have however also been seen by some of the most dismissive and ineffective healthcare professionals, many of these during appointments relating to gynaecological or female-focused issues. As I relayed my full history via video call to the GP today, I became quite emotional. The experiences I recounted of the healthcare' provided to me during teenage years, early postpartum hours, an IUD insertion, perimenopausal symptoms, concerning and debilitating gynaecological symptoms, and a year-long-wait for a gynaecological referral, all carried a level of trauma. Talking about them made me realise how I had been repeatedly let down, dismissed or inappropriately treated. Key points: looking back at my history I had not been offered local anaesthetic for an IUD procedure where I should have been, and I went on to feel extremely high levels of pain (which had not been recorded in my notes). Going by my description, it was likely after giving birth that I had experienced a postpartum haemorrhage, which had not been recorded or treated appropriately. A internal scan that had been deemed unnecessary and cancelled, should have been done to investigate key causal factors for some of my gynaecological symptoms. I had made the private appointment because I knew this woman was a well known expert in the full spectrum of women's health issues. I wanted guidance that came from a place of knowledge and passion. I wanted the next steps I took to be the right ones for my health. I wanted to understand what my array of symptoms meant and the role my medical history had to play. I wanted to make sure I, and my regular GP weren't missing something important. I wanted to feel better. Can most people afford to access this service? No. Can I afford to do it again? No. Was it worth every penny? Absolutely for me personally, but the NHS will benefit too. Key points: looking at next steps She gave me advice for which investigations and blood tests were needed to be able to determine the causal factors of my gynaecological symptoms. She confirmed many of my symptoms related to perimenopause and provided an explanation as to how this was affecting my body. I was given a breakdown of options for HRT and advice on which to try first - explaining carefully which element of the treatment addressed which of my symptoms. I came away with so much support, guidance and knowledge that I can honestly say this appointment, which had taken at least 6 times as long as an NHS slot, would undoubtedly save the system money in the long run (considering the multiple appointments I'd had over the years). And more importantly, I am confident it has set me on the path to receive the right investigations, symptom management and treatment options. These two points obviously go hand-in-hand when striving for an efficient health care system that gives value for money and leads to improved outcomes. Was it because she is a private doctor and provides a better service? Of course not. She simply had the right expertise, attitude and, crucially, time to properly navigate my health needs. She works for the NHS too. While she spent much longer with me than an NHS GP would have been able to, I do feel this sort of approach could actually save the NHS time and money if they were to offer longer consultations for women's health issues. I came away understanding my health better, armed with knowledge that would help guide the next steps of my health journey in a way that would be more efficient for the healthcare professionals I would be communicating to. In just 40 minutes... In just 40 minutes (it took far less time than we had allotted) she had done 6 key things: listened to my summary of 30 years worth of events and relevant history (I had put this in writing for her to read at the start, which I felt would aid us to use the time efficiently) asked many questions to gain further detail...and listened found time to medically explain my symptoms and likely causes, in plain English offered next steps advice communicated with compassion and respect made notes that would form the basis of a letter for my GP. I am an assertive and confident person, but reflecting on my appointment and the events I retold, I realised there was a common and surprising theme running through. Whenever something hadn't felt right with my body, I had felt uncomfortable speaking up. Or I had very quickly accepted a poorly executed follow-up or a dismissal of my concerns entirely. This resulted in long-lasting symptoms and traumatic healthcare experiences being accepted. Two things that I had learnt to endure, to the detriment of my health. We have got to help girls and women of all ages feel confident and enabled to speak up about their health. From an early age they need to hear us all (men and women) using the right language, with no shame. Only then can we set girls up to confidently advocate for themselves and their own health. But confidently speaking up isn't enough if no one listens. We need to really listen to girls and women. Not just for the obvious reasons of humane and compassionate treatment, but also because it is more efficient for the system. And let's be honest, medical history somewhat shafted us, so the data that lies within women's experiences should be welcomed and encouraged if we are to have any chance of catching up. Only by genuinely hearing, respecting and responding to their voices and their experiences relating to their bodies, can women be enabled to influence the diagnostic and care planning process. A process that surely we should be central to? Related reading The normalisation of women’s pain Sex bias in pain management decisions Misogyny is a safety issue: a blog by Saira Sundar Medicines, research and female hormones: a dangerous knowledge gap Dangerous exclusions: The risk to patient safety of sex and gender bias Unconscious bias: gynaecological pain, the elephant in the womb! Pain bias: The health inequality rarely discussed
  8. News Article
    Menopausal women of Chinese and black African backgrounds are about 80% less likely to receive hormone replacement therapy than white women, according to a large-scale study. HRT is one of the most common treatments for menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, poor sleep and vaginal dryness. It can also help maintain muscle strength and prevent osteoporosis. But a 10-year study of nearly 2 million women in England has found worrying inequalities in women’s access to HRT. Academics at the University of Oxford examined HRT prescriptions issued in England to 1,978,348 women aged 40 to 60 over a 10-year period. Findings presented at the World Congress on Menopause in Melbourne on Monday revealed that between 2013 and 2023, almost six times as many white women were prescribed HRT than black women, and more than twice as many women in affluent areas were offered HRT than those living in socially deprived areas. While previous studies have identified unequal access to HRT, the academics believe this is the first study to quantify the likelihood of receiving it, having adjusted for age, deprivation and ethnicity. Over the 10 years they found that, compared with their white counterparts, women of Chinese backgrounds were 82% less likely, and those of black African backgrounds 79% less likely, to receive HRT. Women from Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian backgrounds were respectively 70%, 64% and 61% less likely to be on HRT. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 21 October 2024
  9. News Article
    Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is taken by more than two million British women to replace oestrogen and progesterone as natural production declines, is in the headlines again after a high-profile doctor was accused of overprescribing the hormones. In a BBC Panorama documentary, which aired last Monday, Dr Louise Newson, who runs eight menopause clinics across the country, was alleged to have risked harming patients by prescribing HRT at too high a dosage. The licensed maximum is 100 micrograms, delivered via oestrogen patches, but Newson’s clinic prescribed up to 300mcg. However, the accusations also sparked a backlash. On Saturday, Alison Perry, a patient at one of Newson’s clinics defended the doctor as “somebody who has really stuck her neck out to help women”. This row has revealed a rift in the medical profession about the best way to use HRT. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 6 October 2024
  10. Content Article
    In this Independent article, author and podcaster Lorraine Candy comments on a recent BBC Panaroma episode which looked into private menopause clinics. She criticises the programme for creating fear around hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and misrepresenting the issues facing women's health services in the UK. She argues that rather than focusing on the practice of one private clinic, the question being asked should be why private clinics need to exist in the first place. The answer, she states, is that GPs are ill-informed about menopause, leading to women being patronised, gaslit and not having their symptoms taken seriously. She also highlights the dangers of GPs wrongly prescribing antidepressants instead of HRT, leaving women taking drugs with serious side-effects that don't appropriately treat the cause of their symptoms.
  11. News Article
    Menopausal women working in NHS England will be able to work flexibly should they need to under new guidance. Launching the first national NHS guidance on menopause, the NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, has called on other employers to follow suit to help “break the stigma”. She said many employees were “silently suffering” and were either too embarrassed to broach the subject or experience a “lack of support” when they did. No one should feel their only option is to “turn their back on their career” over menopausal symptoms, she added. “It’s our responsibility as leaders to ensure this doesn’t happen any longer.” The guidance aims to boost awareness as well as support the introduction of practical measures including flexible working patterns – including lighter duties, fans to make temperatures more comfortable, cooler uniforms and staff training. “Our guidance has been intentionally designed to be transferable to other workplaces too, so I hope organisations and women beyond the NHS can also benefit,” she said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 23 November 2022
  12. News Article
    The NHS faces an “exodus” of female doctors who are struggling to work due to a lack of menopause support, a report has warned. The Medical Protection Society, which helps doctors in legal and ethical disputes, said that many quit or reduce their hours over fears that their menopause symptoms, such as brain fog, insomnia and hot flushes, will cause them to accidentally harm patients. A survey found that 36 per cent of female doctors have considered reducing their hours because of menopause symptoms, while one in five have considered early retirement. “With females making up most of the healthcare workforce, it is crucial that they can access the support they need to avoid an exodus from the profession,” the report said. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 26 October 2022
  13. News Article
    Women should be invited for a menopause check-up when they turn 45, a report for MPs says, criticising the current support as completely inadequate. The Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group says it has listened carefully to women's experiences, including difficulties getting a diagnosis and accessing hormone-replacement therapy (HRT). Many had long waits or were offered antidepressants, against guidelines. The report covers a year-long inquiry. It says action is needed to improve the situation for those going through the menopause, and the families, friends and colleagues affected by it. And a health check offered to all women in their mid-40s, as they approach the perimenopause - when hormones decline and menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, can begin - should help ensure the necessary support and care as early as possible. The inquiry heard a 39-year-old who suspected she was perimenopausal was turned away by her GP and told to "wait and see". Some 18 months later, she was "almost at the verge of collapsing, struggling to keep my usually happy marriage on track and not functioning well physically or mentally". The report also warns a socio-economic divide is emerging between women able to access the right treatment and those who lose out in the postcode lottery and do not have the financial means to seek treatment elsewhere. Read full story Source: BBC News, 12 October 2022
  14. News Article
    Previously offered as prescription only, estradiol tablets, sold under the brand name Gina10, will now be available to women over the age of 50 who have not had a period for more than a year, as part of hormone replacement therapy treatment (HRT). Pharmacists have been offered training to identify who needs the tablets. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made the decision as part of a strategy to make menopause treatment more accessible for women. Estradiol tablets treat vaginal symptoms caused by a lack of oestrogen, such as dryness, soreness, itching, burning and uncomfortable sex. The product is inserted into the vagina rather than taken by mouth. MHRA chief healthcare quality and access officer Dr Laura Squire called the move a "landmark reclassification for millions of women in the UK". "In reaching this decision, we have seen positive support from a wide range of people, including many women aged 50 years and above who could benefit from this decision," she said. The MHRA hopes the move will relieve pressure on front-line NHS services and give women more freedom in choosing treatments that work for them. Read full story Source: BBC News, 8 September 2022
  15. News Article
    Women going through menopause should be given greater rights and protection in the workplace, MPs say. The Women and Equalities Committee said a lack of support in the UK was pushing women out of work. The cross-party group wants menopause to become a protected characteristic like pregnancy, to give working women more rights. Caroline Nokes, who chairs the committee said: "Stigma, shame and dismissive cultures can, and must, be dismantled." The government, speaking on the issue for England as health issues is devolved to the national governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said the issue was a priority, highlighting it had recently appointed a women's health ambassador and set up a menopause taskforce to look into workplace support. Read full story Source: BBC News, 28 July 2022
  16. News Article
    Hormone replacement therapy is to be offered over the counter for the first time in the UK after the medicines watchdog gave the green light. Millions of women go through the menopause every year, with the majority experiencing some symptoms that can be severe and have a negative impact on everyday life. In a landmark move hailed as a “huge step forward” for women’s health, the first type of HRT to become available at pharmacies without a prescription will be Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets (containing estradiol). The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the vaginal tablets would be available for post-menopausal women from September after a safety review. Maria Caulfield, the minister for women’s health, said: “Menopause affects hundreds of thousands of women every year, but for some its symptoms can be debilitating and for many they can be misunderstood or ignored. “Making Gina available over the counter is a huge step forward in enabling women to access HRT as easily as possible, ensuring they can continue living their life as they navigate the menopause.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 20 July 2022
  17. News Article
    Doctors have hit back at critics saying they are failing menopausal women, and said that treating menopause as a hormone deficiency that requires medical treatment could fuel negative expectations and make matters worse. Writing in the British Medical Journal they said there was an urgent need for a more realistic and balanced narrative which actively challenges the idea that menopause is synonymous with an inevitable decline in women’s health and wellbeing, and called for continued efforts to improve awareness about the symptoms and how to deal with them. “Menopause is a natural event for half of humankind. While media attention in the UK may give the impression that growing numbers of women are struggling to cope with menopausal symptoms and are seeking hormonal treatment, there is no universal experience and most women prefer not to take medication unless their symptoms are severe,” wrote Martha Hickey, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues. They added that over-medicalisation of the menopause risked collapsing this wide range of experiences into a narrowly defined disease requiring treatment. “It tends to emphasise the negative aspects of menopause and, while effective treatments are important for those with troublesome symptoms, medicalisation may increase women’s anxiety and apprehension about this natural life stage.” Women’s experiences of menopause were strongly influenced by personal, family and social factors, they said. For instance, a recent review found that negative attitudes and expectations before menopause predicted the likelihood of women experiencing distressing symptoms. “Changing the narrative by normalising menopause and emphasising positive or neutral aspects such as freedom from menstruation, pregnancy and contraception, together with information about managing troublesome symptoms might empower women to manage menopause with greater confidence,” Hickey said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 15 June 2022
  18. News Article
    Women are wasting their time and money buying do-at-home menopause testing kits, doctors have warned. The urine tests are not predictive enough to tell whether a woman is going through the phase when her periods will stop, doctors have told the BBC. The tests, which give a result within minutes, accurately measure levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps manage the menstrual cycle. But experts say it is not a reliable marker of the menopause or perimenopause. Dr Annice Mukherjee, a leading menopause and hormone doctor from the Society of Endocrinology, told the BBC the FSH urine tests were “another example of exploitation of midlife women by the commercial menopause industry, who have financial conflicts of interest”. “It’s not helpful for women to access [FSH] directly,” she said. “It is not a reliable marker of perimenopause and can cause more confusion among women taking the test. At worst, misinterpretation of results can cause harm.” The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), along with other leading experts in women’s health, said the tests could be unhelpful and potentially misleading. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 10 June 2022
  19. Content Article
    Research suggests that there is a wide gap in knowledge about how medical conditions affect men and women differently, and about the conditions that only affect women. As a result, women are receiving poorer medical advice and diagnosis, often leading to worse outcomes. This handbook published by digital healthcare provider Livi looks at some of the evidence surrounding sex-based health inequalities and how they are affecting women in the UK. The handbook covers the following topics: The Yentl Syndrome Heart disease Stroke Autoimmune disease Dementia Cancer Handling your health Helping women be heard Who’s an expert on your body? Menstruation Pregnancy Infertility Menopause Mental health
  20. News Article
    Hundreds of thousands of women could benefit from cheaper hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as part of a scheme to cut prescription costs. The Department of Health said that from April, women prescribed HRT as part of menopause treatment will be able to access a new scheme to enable access to a year’s worth of treatment for just under £20. The announcement follows the publication of the government’s women’s health strategy for England last summer. Minister for Women Maria Caulfield said: “Around three-quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with one-quarter experiencing severe symptoms, which can seriously impact their quality of life. “Reducing the cost of HRT is a huge moment for improving women’s health in this country, and I am proud to be announcing this momentous step forward. “In our Women’s Health Strategy, we made menopause a top priority – by making HRT more accessible, we’re delivering on our commitment to women.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 21 February 2023
  21. News Article
    Private menopause clinics are prescribing HRT at "twice the recommended dose", an investigation has revealed. The investigation by The Pharmaceutical Journal has revealed that patients attending private menopause clinics are subject to “unorthodox prescribing” by providers. Many are receiving oestrogen at up to double the recommended dose placing them at higher risk of cancer and vaginal bleeding. Nuttan Tanna, a pharmacist consultant in women’s health at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, said she had seen referrals for “bleeding investigations” and then found the patient was on "very large doses [of oestrogen] prescribed previously by private providers”. Brendon Jiang, a senior clinical pharmacist for North Oxfordshire Rural Alliance Primary Care Network, said that his team were increasingly getting letters from private clinics requesting for patients to be prescribed doses of oestrogen that are off-label or exceed licensed recommendations. He also raised concerns that patients were not taking enough progesterone alongside increased doses of oestrogen. Taking increased doses of oestrogen alone can increase the risk of womb cancer but progesterone protects against that risk and therefore the two hormones should be taken together. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Telegraph, 19 December 2022 Further reading on the hub: Surgical menopause: a toolkit for healthcare professionals (British Menopause Society) Menopause Support - Getting the most out of your doctor’s appointment World Menopause Day 2022: Raising awareness of surgical menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause: Inquiry to assess the impacts of menopause and the case for policy reform - conclusions
  22. News Article
    Hospital staff in Nottingham have said they are keen to build on the success of its menopause support scheme. Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) said 24% of its staff were aged 45-55, the most common age for the condition. Staff can ask for lighter uniforms, shift changes, more time to complete tasks or access to fans in offices. Advice, awareness training and access to specialist staff are also part of the scheme. The staff wellbeing team at NUH said they were "inundated" with messages from colleagues who were struggling. Jenny Good, NUH Staff Wellbeing Lead, said: "We strongly believe that menopause is an issue for everybody. Everyone knows somebody who will go through it. "We wanted to equip everyone who works at NUH with an awareness of what menopause is. "We're really proud that we're the first NHS trust to get the accreditation. "The conversation has opened up." Read full story Source: BBC News, 18 December 2022
  23. Content Article
    The aim of this paper is to raise awareness of the impact menopause is having on the workforce, as well as to issue recommendations and help healthcare organisations, managers, and employers to better support health care workers so that they do not leave the workforce or suffer in silence if they struggle with managing menopause symptoms. Recommendations All healthcare organisations should introduce flexible working arrangements for individual clinicians, with policies and procedures to ensure those affected can seek support – such as making reasonable workplace adjustments, taking breaks or taking time off when needed – without fear of adverse impacts on their career or professional reputation. Managers and senior leaders in the NHS/HSE and in private healthcare settings must be trained in the topic of the menopause, including the impact the symptoms can have on working females and their teams. Anyone who is suffering with menopause symptoms needs to be supported by their managers, to discuss any necessary changes to working arrangements. Occupational health teams should be involved in a proactive way in planning and supporting clinicians going through the menopause in a proactive way to avoid them leaving the profession. This should include support for mental health and wellbeing. We support the recommendation from the Health and Social Care Select Committee that all new doctors joining the profession should be trained on the menopause, however we would like to see this extended to currently practising doctors. Primary care providers should consider staff with menopause expertise, when hiring new team members, as this will benefit patients, clinicians and practice staff. Healthcare professionals working in the NHS/HSE or in private practice who are struggling with menopause symptoms themselves should seek support and professional advice on potential treatments and lifestyle measures. MPS also has a role to play – we listen to and care for members, including offering support with their wellbeing and we have made our 24/7 confidential counselling service available for those struggling with the menopause.
  24. Content Article
    Surgical menopause is the removal of both ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) before a woman goes through biological menopause. Symptoms of surgical menopause are generally similar to that of a natural or chemically induced menopause, with a few established differences. Due to the sudden loss of ovarian function in surgical menopause, pre-menopausal women might experience more severe consequences, including increased rates of overall mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction. Surgical menopause can have significant consequences both short term and long term. Clear information and advice should be provided both before and after surgery to both the patient and their primary care team.
  25. Content Article
    More information about "Raising awareness of surgical menopause"
    World Menopause Day is held every year on 18 October to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing. In this blog, I want to raise awareness of surgical menopause, which affects over 4000 young women a year, specifically around the lack of information and support received before and after surgery.   The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Menopause published its final long-awaited report following a year-long inquiry into the menopause. The findings demonstrate that widespread action is needed to improve the situation for those going through the menopause. The report makes for a sobering read; women are facing obstacles to good menopause care and are often left feeling frustrated and unheard, with severe symptoms that impact on their careers, home life and relationships. This is particularly so for those women who undergo a hysterectomy or oophorectomy (a surgical procedure to remove one or both ovaries) which immediately sends a woman into surgical menopause. Unlike natural menopause, the onset of surgical menopause is often very sudden and abrupt. The British Menopause Society states that all women undergoing surgical menopause should have counselling and be provided with information about the hormonal consequences of surgery and the role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), both before surgery and before leaving hospital, with clear communication to the primary care team. But many women, myself included, have said they received little or no information about the menopause before undergoing surgery. I had breast cancer and during treatment found out I had the BRCA1 gene mutation which made me high risk for developing ovarian cancer. I was advised to have an oophorectomy. I was referred to a gynaecologist and whilst I received all the appropriate information about the surgery itself, the benefits and risk of having surgery, I received no information about the surgical menopause it would put me in after. When I asked about this, I was told that I would naturally be going through the menopause in a few years anyway and that I was ‘lucky’ as I would miss out the years of perimenopause that most women go through. I felt my concerns were dismissed, but having gone through cancer once I wanted to lower my risk of going through it again so decided to go ahead with the operation. What I was not told, and didn't find out until after my surgery, was that women who enter premature menopause due to surgery (or chemically induced menopause due to treatments such as chemotherapy) tend to experience a severe and wide range of symptoms. As one woman on a surgical menopause support group I belong to put it: “A surgical menopause is like standing on the cliff edge and someone just pushing you off so you hit the ground below at full speed with a thud. There’s no parachute as in natural menopause to slow it down.” Due to the sudden loss of ovarian function in surgical menopause, pre-menopausal women might experience more severe consequences, including increased rates of overall mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction because of the lower levels of oestrogen and testosterone. It’s quite different from natural menopause, which is gradual and leaves some residual hormones in the body. Surely this is a patient safety issue if women are not being given all the information about surgical menopause? How can they make an informed decision on whether to have the surgery or not? I was followed up a couple of months after my surgery with a call from my gynaecologist to discuss how I was recovering from the surgery, but still was given no information on where to get help with the menopause. I was told I probably couldn’t take HRT because of my cancer but if I wanted to discuss this further to see my GP. After doing my own research on surgical menopause and joining some support groups online, I realised I was not alone in this, and many women currently receive zero post-surgical aftercare from the NHS for the menopause. “Women often enter surgical menopause with an urgent surgery and no time to prepare. This leaves them scrambling for information once they are already in the throes of menopause. They don’t know who to turn to and are often passed from oncologist/consultant, to gynaecologist, to GP.” There is a huge amount of misinformation and different opinions – even among medical professionals – that often lead to women being given incorrect information or no information at all. Oncologists will often advise against HRT for women, however they offer them no alternative or support. “In the aftermath of my surgery I was numb. I had not been warned of the symptoms of the menopause I’d feel, only the surgery. I didn’t know where to turn to. My oncologist wasn’t interested as I’d finished my breast cancer treatment. I was referred back to my GP but they didn’t know what to recommend.” Many women post-surgery end up in a crisis situation due to being so chronically hormone deficient. Some are left unable to work and unable to function, having experienced a severe deterioration in both physical and mental health. Their symptoms are not acknowledged by healthcare professionals and they are left with no aftercare or support. This is often on top of the physical and psychological toll of going through cancer treatment. “My life changed. I felt suicidal. If I’d known this, I may have taken the risk of not having surgery as my quality of life has deteriorated.” The APPG report has made a number of recommendations around access to HRT. However, there are currently no specific supporting NICE guidelines in place to help healthcare professionals manage and support women in surgical menopause and those who need closer management due to hormone sensitivities and when mainstream methods of HRT fail. Whilst I’m encouraged that the APPG report highlights alternatives to HRT for those who choose not to take it or who are not recommended to, it acknowledges that the evidence on the effectiveness of CBT, complementary and holistic treatments or herbal therapies is unclear and often disputed within the menopause community. Alternative treatments are unable to treat a wide range of menopause symptoms in the way that HRT can. GPs must be educated on social prescribing, and greater collaboration between the complementary therapies sector and GPs is needed to make them aware of the range of options they can offer women to treat and support them during menopause. Many women are forced to seek specialist private care in order to regain any form of quality of life, however ultimately this comes at a financial cost which not everyone can afford. Although I welcome the APPG report, more needs to be done for women who find themselves going through surgical menopause, often at a younger age than natural menopause. Here's what I'd like to see available for all women: Information pre-surgery about the hormonal consequences of surgery. Information on the risks and benefits of surgery, so that the patient can make an informed decision. The option of counselling before or after surgery. Follow up after the surgery specifically on the menopausal symptoms patients may be facing. More information on the risk and benefits of HRT for women who have had cancer, and alternative options if the woman cannot take HRT. A key specialist contact post-surgery who has had the appropriate training and expertise to advise on the menopause. Access to a specialist menopause centre.
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